In order to provide scientific information to the government, academia and public, “a study on cost effectiveness of enteral nutrition” was organized by ILSI Focal Point in China in March, 2004 in collaboration with nutritionists from 3 top-ranked hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai. The objectives of the study were to analyze the prevalence of malnutrition in in-patients, and compare the effects on patients with and without EN support, and evaluate the cost effectiveness of EN. The study was well supported by the scientists and industries.
The results of the above-mentioned study were presented at the Workshop on Cost Effectiveness of Enteral Nutrition, organized by ILSI Focal Point in China in collaboration with National Economic Institute and ThinkTank Health Development Center, on December 5, 2004.
The survey results showed that the prevalence of underweight (BMI< 18.5) in the 4,549 patients were 11.1%, 12.2% and 14.6% respectively at the admission, hospitalization and discharge periods, whereas the prevalence of anemia was 40.4%, 53.1% and 50.7%, and the prevalence of low albumin was 20%, 31.6% and 19.8% respectively.
A comparative analysis was made between 576 in-patients supported by EN and 566 in-patients supported by PN, and the results showed that EN had better effects on the reduction of body weight loss and the reduction of serum albumin.
A total of 350 pairs of patients with the same diseases were selected for comparing the cost between EN and PN support. The results showed that both total cost during the hospitalization and cost for nutrition support of EN group was significantly lower than that of PN group. In order to further promote the applications of EN in China, ILSI Focal Point in China will continue to collect further information on the costs and effects of EN and communicate with the related regulatory organizations to provide scientific evidence for policy making and regulation development of EN application in China.